Collapsible crib



Feb. E2, E95? H. T. JACKSON coLLAPsIBLE CRIB 2 sheds-sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1954 Har/ey I Jac/rsan INVENToR.

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Har/ey 7.' Jackson INVENToR.

United States COLLAPSIBLE CRIB Harley Jackson, Topeka, Kans. Application April 22, 1954, Serial No. 424,925

1 Claim. (Cl. 5-99) The present invention relates to cribs and more particularly relates to a collapsible crib which collapses into a compact carrying case when not in use.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible crib ideally suited for use during traveling, being collapsible into a carrying case which will easily t into the trunk of an automobile and which may be set up for use in the back seat of an automobile for use of a child while traveling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible crib which when set up is extremely sturdy, being rendered more sturdy by the addition of weight thereto and being effectively safeguarded against unwanted collapse while yet being :collapsible quickly and simply when desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a crib of the above described character which is of relatively lightweight and inexpensive construction which is ideally suited for use by motels," hotels, trailers, small apartments, or in any other environment where space is at a premium.

These, together with other objects and advantages .which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crib set up and ready for use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the crib collapsed into a compact carrying case;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the crib when set up, taken substantially along section line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View taken substantially along section line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through `the carrying case of Figure 2 taken substantially along section line 5--5 of this gure to show the position of the side walls and bottom of the crib when the crib is collapsed into the end members forming the carrying case;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative form of bottom for the crib; and

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form for retaining the lazy tongs or toggle links forming the side walls to the end members of the crib.

From the drawings, lthe numeral 10 designates the crib in its entirety which is seen to consist essentially of a pair of box-like end members 12 and 14 opening toward one another and when the crib is set up, spaced from one another by bottom 16 and side walls 18.

Each of the end members consists of a back panel 20, top and bottom walls 22 and 24, respectively, and side walls 26. At' the juncture of the back panel or wall 20 to the side walls 26 of each end member, a vertical reinforcing member 28 is provided abutting the adjacent inner surfaces of the back panel 20 and the side walls 26 2,780,817 Fatenterl Feb. l2, '1957 of the end members to reinforce `this joint. These end members open toward one another and collapse into abutting relation with one another to form a hollow housing as will be particularly noted from a perusal of Figures 2 and 5.

The bottom 16 of the crib is hinged at its ends by means of suitable hinges 30 to the bottom walls 24 of the end members 12 and 14, respectively. The bottom 16 constitutes a pair of identical, complementary sections 32 and 34 which are hinged at their undersurfaces to one another as at 36 for upward collapsing movement toward one another to be received within the end members when the end members are collapsed against one another as shown in Figure 5. The bottom sections 32 and 34 of the bottom 16 comprise rigid, flat panels upon which may rest the mattress, or the like. By virtue of the relative positioning of the hinges 3l? and 36, the bottom sections 32 and 34 resist any movement beyond a position coplanar with one another when the crib is moved from collapsed to expanded position.

To further prevent any further movement of the bottom panel sections 32 and 34, iiem'ble means in the form of chains 38 are secured at their upper ends to the central portion of each of the side walls 18 and branch out at their lower ends into a pair of chain elements 40 which secure to the side edges of the sections 32 and 34 adjacent their hinged connections to one another. Consequently, as weight on the bottom 16 is increased, the sections 4@ of the chain 38 resist any downward collapsing of the bottom sections 32 and 34. These chains have a further function which will appear subsequently.

The side walls 18 are formed of double height lazy tong or toggle link sections, the upper ends of the end legs of which are pivotally secured to the reinforcing bars 28 of the end sections i2 and 14, as at 42, the lower ends of the free end sections of the lazy tongs being secured to the lower portions of the reinforcing bars 2S by means of links 44. The lazy tongs 1S are of course collapsible within the end members l2 and 14 upon co1- lapsing of the crib.

Chains 38 which are attached centrally of the side walls of the crib formed by the lazy tongs pull downwardly on these lazy tongs as weight is supplied to the bottom of the crib thereby tending to urge the lazy tongs 18 to a more expanded position and positively preventing the possibility of collapse of these lazy tongs. Thus, the chains 38 serve in a large degree to retain the expanded crib in a rigid, uncollapsible, setup position by preventing both downward collapse of the bottom sections 32 and 34 of the crib and at the same time tending to spread out the side walls of the crib to eliminate the possibility of collapse from this direction.

Each end member is provided with a pair of collapsible legs 44. The legs of each pair are attached to opposite side edges of the bottom wall 24 of each end member and collapsed toward one another to underlie the bottom wall being hinged for such collapsing to the undersurface of each bottom wall 24 as by hinges 46. Collapsible braces 43 prevent outward splaying of the legs when weight is applied to the crib. Further, by providing the particular swinging movement of the legs from a collapsed position inwardly of the end members to an eX- tended position substantially parallel to the side walls 26 of the end members, the actual tendency of the legs is to splay outwardly upon weight being applied to the crib when the crib is in its expanded position preventing collapse of the crib legs.

Mattress sections 50 and S2 may rest upon the bottom sections 32 and 34 and the bottom walls 24 of the end members 12 and 14 and may indeed form a portion of the crib, sufficient room being provided in the end members 12 and 14 of the crib to permit the collapsing of the crib with` the mattress sections 50 and 52 therein without necessitating/their removal. Further, sufficient space is left within the end members even in their collapsed position for the receipt of a pair of blankets and a pair` of sheets so that the collapsible crib may form a portable,` self-contained unit containing all the essentials necessary in setting up a bed including 4the bedclothes.

Suitable hooks S4 are provided on the exterior surfaces of the side walls 26 of the end sections 12,and 14 to retain the lower portions of these sections in abutting relation with one another when the crib is collapsed. Further, along the top walls 22 of the end members 12 and 14 suitable cooperatingclamp means 56 are provided to assist in retaining the end members 12 and 14 in abutting relation with one another when the crib is collapsed. A suitable carrying handle 58 upon the end member 14 serves as a means for carrying the case which is formed by the abutting end members 12 and 14.

A modied bottom structure for the crib is shown in Figure 6 wherein the same consists of a rectangular frame 60 being comprised of a pair of complementary sections 62 and 64, respectively, hinged for upward swinging movement to one another and having crossstraps 66 extending therebetween for the support of mattress sections 50 and 52. Further, the complementary section 64 is shown as providing an overlappingl angle member 68 which when the sections are unfolded to their coplanar relation to form the rectangular bottom 60 overlaps the adjacent section 62 of the bottom to rigidify the juncture between the sections. Chains 38 having the Y-shaped bottom portions 40 as previously described are connected to the sections 62 and 64 adjacent their hinged connections as previously described.

In Figure 7, a modified manner of attaching the lower ends of the lazy tongs to the reinforcing bars 28 is shown, wherein the bars 2S` are vertically slotted as at 70 while the free ends of the lazy tongs are provided with pins 72 riding in the slots. The over-all eect is the same as that achieved with the links 44 previously described.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since 4 numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A collapsible crib comprising a pair of box-like end members opening toward' one another and being collapsible into abutting relation toform a carrying case, a crib bottom and side walls normally spacing said end members from one another, saidv bottom and side walls being collapsible within said end members when the end members are moved to abutting relation with one another, said bottom comprising a pair of rigid sections hingedly connected to said end members at their remote ends and hinged to one another at their adjacent ends for folding between said end members as the crib is collapsed, exible elements attached at their upper ends to said side walls and attached at their lower ends to said bottom sections to prevent sagging of the bottom when the crib is in its extended position, said flexible elements each having a pair of branched lower end portions, one of said exible elements being attached to each side wall, the branched lower end portions of said elements straddling the adjacent ends of said bottom sections, and one branched lower end portion of each flexible element being attached to each of said bottom sections.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 230,684 Armstrong Aug. 3, 1880 360,556 Bickford Apr. 5, 1887 1,498,633 Lewis June 24, 1924 2,501,359 Stilson Mar. 21, 1950 2,533,970 Sole Dec. 12, 1950` 2,598,844 Simons June 3, 1952 2,695,412 Kunz Nov. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,180 Norway Aug. 2, 1909 32,597l Sweden Oct. 24, 191() 

